PROGRAMs FOR BUILDING MORALE OF SOLDIERS IN ARMY CAMPS

THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF LEISURE HOURS AND THE DESIGN

OF A RECREATION UNIT TO HOUSE SUCH A PROGRAM

Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Architecture Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Architecture

Lisa linevitch April 1942 121 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, Massachusetts March 30, 1942

Dean Walter R. MacCornack Chairman, Thesis Committee School of Architecture Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts Dear Sir:

In this time of national emergency I felt that my thesis topic should permit me to com- bine my architectural training and my inclina- tion toward the theatre with the interests of the war effort. Therefore, in partial ful- fillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Architecture I hereby submit this thesis entitled "A Program for Building Morale of Soldiers in Army Camps through the

Constructive Use of Leisure Hours and the De- sign of a Recreation Unit to House such a Pro- gram."

Respectfully,

Lisa Minevitch ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The author takes this opportunity to express her gratitude to Dean 4aiter R. MacCornack; William

Emerson, Former Dean; and the Staff of the School of Architecture for their valuable assistance and constructive criticism during her five years of architectural education at the Uassachusetts in- stitute of Technology, and to members of the U. S. armed forces who have furnished the information nec- essary for this thesis. TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter of Submittal Acknowledgment

Body of Report

introduction to the Problem ...... page I Ideal Program of Activity for

Leisure Hours ...... page 4 Housing of the Ideal Program...... page 19

The Actual Situation as of iarch 1942. .... page 25

Conclusion ...... page 34 Bibliography INTRODUCTION TO THE PROHLEM

Maikind is today fighting its most gigantic battle in the eternal struggle for freedom; it is a battle which we must win. To that end the United States is turning her every energy, and to that ultimate victory she has dedicated her young men. From every nationality, from every walk of life, from every type of job, from city apartments and country farmhouses in every state they come, young men, millions of them to be trained for the task which must be done. But drilling their bodies and their minds in the complex routine of modern warfare is not enough; the work is not thoroughly accomplished until we have made ade- quate provision.also for the building-up of their spirit. If we make our soldiers feel that the country considers them valuable, they will fight -vith confi- dence; if we treat them as the defenders of our free- dom, they will fight with determination. This is no time to neglect the very birthright we are struggling to preserve: the right to life, liberty, and the pur- suit of happiness. Therefore, A Plan for the Strength- ening of M1orale of Soldiers in Army Camps through the

Constructive Use of Leisure Hours and the Design of a

Recreation Unit to House such a Program is of vital necessity. Before discussirgthe plan itself let us consider the principle conditions under which this "Morale-Building" must take place.

1. Extent of leisure hours

a. Weekdays--After mess, approximately 5:30 p.m. till bedtime--no loud noise allowed

after general lights-out at 10 p.m., but activities which do not disturb

the peace of the camp are permitted--

hours of rising vary in different cli-

mates and seasons, in general 5:30 a.m. in summer, 6 a.m. in winter. b. Sundays--All day.

2. Possibilities of leaving camp

80-906 must now remain always on the

alert at the camp (as of larch 27,

1942)--the rest must request passes for night or Sunday leave.

3. Situation of camp in relation to the nearest out- side recreation area

May be in the immediate vicinity of a sizeable metropolis or miles from the

nearest town. 4. Division of men into army units

Regiment = 1200-2400 = 2-3 Battalions

Battalion = 500--800 = 3-4 Companies

Company = 100--200 = 3-4 Platoons

Platoon = 35---50 = 3-4 Squads Squad = 12 men

5. Examples of size of army camps--number of men

Fort Bragg, N. C.------60,000

Fort Belvoir, Va. (ERTC)------10,000

6. Supplementary Information

a. Officers--Officers and men never mix off-duty-- separate recreation facilities are

provided--separate section for offi-

cers required in theatres.

b. Guests----Guests are permitted over the weekend

but are not encouraged during the

week--guest-houses on the post are

provided when possible. IDEAL PROGRAM OF ACTIVITY FOR LEISURE HOURS

The program falls naturally into three catagories: mass- entertainment, selective recreation, and individual in- terest.

I. Mass Entertairnment

This type of entertainment will be designed to ap-

peal to every person in the camp collectively. It will be the easiest form of relaxation for tired

men--escape from reality with laughter, music and colorful personalities will be its theme.

In order to approach this phase of the problem properly, it must be pointed out that there are

essential differences between auaiences to be enter-

tained at an Army Camp and the usual peace-time or even wartime civilian audience. it is an assembly

which pays no admission fee whatever or at most a

nominal charge of 15-20 cents. Therefore, there

is no question of using high-pressure methods to

induce a potential paying public to attend the pro-

duction in the greatest possible numbers. The audi- ence is there, waiting. Our job is to put on a

show--not for a Broadway first-night crowd, or for

a high-school auditorium halif-filled with chatter- ing parents and teachers and pupils, or for a group

of "intellectual's" gathered in a pint-sized experi- mental theatre, but for a capacity house of young soldiers, physically weary but mentally alert.

There are four activities which will supply the camp with mass entertainment. Each one involves special problems which may be solved by efficient organization; all four types are necessary to the program.

A. Touring Companies

The problems are three: personnel, production, and program.

The personnel should be made up of (1) units

specially organized for the sole purpose of

touring the camps, (2) appropriate Broadway

productions, performances of which will be

donated to this cause, and (3) prominent com- munity, little theatre, and college groups who signify their willingness to cooperate

in the activity.

1. The major portion of the touring program

will be carried on by the special pro-

fessional units; these are to be cast, rehearsed, and staged with the same thor-

oughness as the commercial productions.

Each member of the troupe should be paid

a minimum weekly wage; the guarantee of a long engagement--for a completely booked

tour of all the Army Camps will run at least as long as the average Broadway

"hit"--should be inducement for Equity members.

2. The Broadway productions which would par- ticipate in this plan would have to ful-

fill two requirements: (1) its charac-

ter must be suitable for the purpose of

entertaining soldiers, and (2) the pro-

ducer's budget must be such that he would

be able and willing to donate, say, a

week's intake toward sending the produc-

tion on a week's tour. There are many

times during the year when theatre busi- ness takes a predictable slump; these would be the ideal opportunities to send productions to Army Camps. Naturally the scope of this part of the mass- entertainment program would be limited. Some of the more popular Broadway shows

which are now touring various parts of

the U. S. might stop occasionnally at Army

Camps enroute; but it would probably not be advisable for a resident Broadway production

to leave its New York public for more than a week. Therefore, this activity would be largely confined to camps in a

400-500 mile radius of New York.

3. The activity of prominent community, little theatre, and college dramatic

groups in this program again hinges on

three requirements: (1) the choice of

an appropriate production, (2) the abil-

ity of the group to finance its own trip,

and (3) the participation of only those groups whose work is up to professional

standards. For reasons of time and econ-

omy the activity of each group would be

confined to the entertainment whenver pos-

sible of Army Camps in its immediate vicin- ity.

Each production (especially in catagories A and C) shoula be simplified to the last de- gree. The camps themselves should provide as much help as possible, furnishing simple adapt- able scenery, if necessary, and aiding in set- ting up and striking operations. The units must be thoroughly organized for mobility, flexi- bility, and economy. These qualities, however, can never excuse drabness or lack of imagination; color, sparkle, and imagination are also characteristics of this project.

What type of production is appropriate for the entertainment of masses of socliers in

Army Camps? From every camp in the country comes the answer: "fast shows, funny shows, shows with lots of girls--and, above all, variety!" So the classics, the serious dramas, the tragedies vwill not be stressed in this part of the program. The three types of production will be! i. Plays--a. Comedies such as Three Men on

a Horse and Room Service, designed for

speed and laughter.

b. Old-fashianed melodramas such as Ten Nights in a Barroom and The Drunk-

ard, designed for audience participation--

hissing and peanut-throwing permitted.

2. Musicals--Recent hits popular for music,

girls, and laughter such as Dubarry Was a

Lady, Helzaooppin, and Let's Face It.

3. Revues and Vaudeville--Short programs of

sketches, acts, comedians, dancers, sing-

ers, choruses (preferably feminine). B. Special Guest Stars

As Elsie Janis was to Americans in World War

I, as Beatrice Liliie has been to Englishmen

in World War II, so some star in the milky-

way of entertainment viil be to our soldiers today--inspiring courage, confidence, cheer.

We must enlist performers in every field--

from the theatre, the movie, the musical (both

vocal and instrumental, and especially swing

bands), and the radio worlds to find this lead-

ing light. Only stars of the first magnitude

need apply, and then only with material speci-

ally prepared or created for this purpose; sec-

ond and third rate "artists" with/or hackneyed, antiquated, slip-shod routines will never boost morale. The guest-star project is closely al-

lied to the activity of the touring units (I-A-

1.-a) and whenever schedules permit the two should cooperate to produce brisk, bright, var-

ied programs.

C. Camp Productions

This activity should be stressed for three rea-

sons: (i) its utilization of theatrical talent already in the armed forces (prominent members of Equity*-, o-f college dramatic societies, of

*250 in service as of February 1942. Equity Magazine 10.

other theatre groups) where th-is talent will

do the most good, (2) the additional attrac-

tion for the men in seeing daily companions in

the roles of actors, airectors, writers, de-

signers, stagehands, and (3) its value as a

lesson in production and cooperation for its

participants.

The performances should be as far as possible

acted, directed, designed, Lnd staged by army

personnel. However, civilians trained in

particular fields ought to be allowed to par-

ticipate where their help would save time and

trouble: in the management and organization

of the programs and the necessary outside as-

sistance (women for feminine roles and for cos- tume work, for instance). Also to save time and trouble--and money, a flexible unit system for simplified stage settings ~iight be advis- able. The programs to be given should be made up of (1) comedies and melodramas of the type sugested in (I-A), and (2) original material

(plays, songs, skretches) of local, topical, common interest created by the soldiers or do- nated by civilians. The best of this material should be made available to all camp production units; the spirit of artistic competition should 11.

be encouraged.

D. The Movies

Little need be said about this activity; de-

spite all attempts to provide other mass en-

tertaiiment, it will probably remain, in. the

camps as in civilian life, the most popular form of vicarious amusement. However, the limited hours for the presentation of films will necessitate short programs; experiments mlight be tried with programs wholly of shorts and cartoons, of old-time favorites, or a new feature-length might be evolved. II. Selective Recreation

This type of activity is designed to appeal to

selective members of the camp. Each acticity

(a) requires some effort, mental and/or physical

on the part of the participant, and (b) will be deliberately addressed to a particular group.

However, since each will be of value in building

morale, all will be encouraged to partake. The

activities will be in four divisions: dances, exhibits, sport exhibition matches, and special

presentations of cultural interest.

A. Dances

To provide necessary feminine companionship, the relaxation of informal exercise, and as

a pleasant change from the strain of army

routine, dances are invaluable. They should

be held frequently on Friday and Saturday

evenings in close coordination with other ap-

propriate entertainment such as swing bands, exhibition dancers, vaudeville units, and guest stars. Important problems are (1) the pro-

vision and transportation of dancing partners, (2) the furnishing of good dance music (the formation of small camip dance bands should be

encouraged), and (3) the creation of a con- genial atmosphere. 13.

B. Exhibit s

Frequent exhibits should be held of work done

at the camp and outside to facilitate the dis-

play and interchange of ideas. A well-designed show of photographs and sketches of camp life

done by the soldiers themselves (see Individ-

ual Interests, B-3c) will be another import-

ant morale-builder; daily activities will take on added emphasis as subjects of art. A comparative display of similar work from

other camps will add to the competitive spirit.

Traveling exhibits of special interest from

museums, schools, and societies will be of

educational value.

The exhibits should 'be (1) arranged in a vital,

impressive fashion where they will be seen by

everyone, and (2) changed often.

C. Sport Exhibition Matches

Such matches would inclucde (1) exhibition of

local camp talent, (2) competition matches

within the camps, and (3) guest stars in special

fields such as boxing, wrestling, fencing.

D. Special Presentations of Cultural Interest This activity is designed for the more serious i4.

moods and temperaments; however, any that proved themselves suitable could be trans- ferred to the category of Mass Entertainment

1. Educational, Documentary, and Morale-

Building Films such as are now being made for the government by prominent di-

rectors and producers--(a) basic training

films on first aid, military customs, etc., and (b) American equivalents of the Brit-

ish Target for T onight, and A Letter from Home.

2. Lectures and Talks by prominent speakers

on topics of the day.

3. Serious Dramatic Productions such as (a)

the classics--Maurice Evans' Macbeth, (b) the present-day dramas--Watch on the Rhine,

(c) plays which portray the life for which

we are fighting--Our Town.

4. Concerts by Prominent (a) Orchestras such as

the 1iew York Philharmonic, (b) Musicians

such as Smeterlin, (c) Singers such as Lily Pons--artists chosen for their skill and manner and with programs chosen for 15.

popular appeal.

5. Dance Programs by Prominent (a) Ballet Companies such as the lonte-Carlo per-

forming Gaite-Parisienne, and the new

Russian Soldier, and (b) Dancers such as

Paul Draper, Humphrey and Weidman, Argen-

tenita performing creations of popular appeal. 16.

III. Individual Interests

This type of activity is designed to appeal to every man in the camp individually. In this program each man will entertain himself.

It will enable him to continue the avocations

he had in civilian life and to become acquainted

with new ones. The arbitrary army divisions

will brea1 up into small congenial groups where similar interests will promote real friendships;

all forms of creative work will be encouraged here.

A. Reading and Writing

i. Reading of Newspapers, Magazines, and Books

2. Study--special note being taken of cor-

respondence courses for soldiers now being conducted by various universities.

3. Correspondence

B. Music

1. Active--playing of instruments, both private practice and group sessions (see

II-A on formation of dance bands).

2. Passive--listening to radio and phono- 17.

graph records. (The possibilities of

civilian donations of records should be

investigated.)

C. Art

This part of the program should be encouraged (1) "to strengthen morale--the daily routine assumes greater importance as the subject of art, (2) as a report to civilians it brings activities to the attention of the public graphically, (3) as a permanent record for

army archives,"* (4) as an aid to other ac-

tivities on the program--the making of post-

ers, designing of scenery for and the re- cording of army productions, and (5) for ex-

hibition purposes in the camp (see II-B).

Materials should be donated by civilians for 1. Photography

2. Painting 3. Sketching.

D. Games i. Indoor such as ping-pong, bowling, bill- iards, chess, checkers.

*Mliluseum of Modern Art commentary on Fort Custer, Michigan Art Exhibit. 2. Outdoor--organized teams such as track, football, basketball, base- ball.

E. Relaxation, Refreshment, and Conversation. 19.

HOUSING OF THE IDEAL PROGRAM

There are three main principles to be considered in the

architectural expression of the ideal program. The

recreational unit should be designed for flexibility

of plan, economy of construction, and adaptability to

Army Camps situated in any locality. Since the special

advantages or restrictions of different sites and cli-

mates should not be utterly neglected, absolutely rigid

standardization is not advisable. For instance, wherever

possible advantage should be taken of a mild climate to include an open-air theatre and outdoor exhibition,

lounge, and play areas. However, a typical unit with

a schedule of the required spaces, arrangement of the areas, and general pattern of circulation is to be worked out and the construction and appearance of the building to be designed.

The Army Unit for which this recreation center is to be created is the Regiment--approximately 1800 men. 80-

90% of these men must always be on the post; of these a nominal few will stay in their barracks in their leisure nours and special duties may occupy a few others. This leaves approximately 1500 men for whom the recreation unit must provide.

From the analysis of the proposed activities, the foi- lowing program has been devised for the recreation unit. 20.

1. Mass Entertainment--Touring Company Productions, Guest Star Performances, Camp Productions, and Movies will be held in A THEATRE

Space is required for:

a. Public Circulation--Lobby, Waiting Gallery

b. Services---Small box office, checkroom, toilets

c. Audience---Total capacity is fixed at 1800

seats (including a separate sec-

tion for 50 officers) to enable

the whole regiment to assemble

at once, but reduction of capac-

ity must be possible when events of selective interest are held there.

d. Presentation--projection booth

Access is required to other parts

of the unit--lounges and refresh- ment "Front"

Backstage Space is required for: e. The Stage--and its equipment

f. Preparation of Production--Dressing Rooms

(group and pri- vate), Rehearsal

Room, Work Space (Construction,

painting), Stor-

age (costumles, scenery, props),

Receiving and

Sbhipping

access is required to art studios

ivhere sets will be designed, posters painted, and to dark rooms

where photographs of productions

will be developed

2. Selective Recreation--Dances, Exhibits, Sport

Exhibition Matches, Lectures, and Performances of

Guest Stars who prefer more intimate surroundings

will be held in A HALL Space is reuuired for:

a. Dancing--for a company and its guests b. Presentations--a Raised Platform for orches-

tras, lecturers, entertain- ers, Dressing Room

c. Storage--for chairs, platforms, andi ex-

hibition equipment d. Services--Checkroom, toilets Access is required to other parts of the unit--lounges and refresh- ment

3. Individual Interests--Reading, Art, Lounging, Refresihment, Music, and Games will take place in appropriate areas. Space, suitable eauipment. and services are required for: Quiet a. A Library--for reading and writing

b. Studios and Dark Rooms--for art work and photography c. Lounges--for relaxation, refresnment, and conversation

d. Music Rooms--for playing and for listening Noisy e. Game Rooms--for indoor games Access is required to other parts of the unit

i Circulation System

General Access

RECRLAT lOP THEATRE RUUOiS HALL

Public i lounges-- Dancing Circulation

-Services Services

Audience -Music Rooms - Presentations

-Game Rooms -Storage

Stage - Library

P. a1. t i KStudios of "epProductiony L A 24.

Suggested Program of Activity

For a Typical Week

UNIT I UNIT II UNIT III meý theatre Iiovies Touring Co. Swing (elzapoppin) Band hall Fencing Lecture Lily Exhibit ion Pons Tuesday theatre Movies Touring Co. Swing -.- Band hall Deanna Smeteriin Lecture Durbin Wednesday theatre General Touring Co. !iovies Rehearsal hall Boxing Deanna Smeterlin Match Durbin Thursday theatre Dress Touring Co. Movies Rehearsal hall Boxing Special Deanna Match Film Durbin Friday theatre Camp Prod. iiovies Touring Co. "Ten Nights" _vaudeville hall Exhibit Danc e Dance

Saturday theatre Camp Prod. Uovies Touring Co. hall Exhibit Dance Dance

Sunday theatre Camp Prod. lovies Touring Co. (mat. only-- (all day) (all day) then struck) hall Exhibit Paul Draper Coimm. Theatre "Our Town" 4.

THE A`CTUAL SITUATI ONI

AS OF 11HRCH i942 i. Facts and Figures

A. Excerpts from the New York Times

Jack Pearl, the comedian, and his straight man, Cliff Hall, will give nine performances at Army Stars camps in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina between to- night and April 11. ... Ann Sher- idan of Hollywood fame will make i a personal tour of Army camps in Wyoming and Missouri this week. S.. Nelson Eddy will sing for the soldiers at Fort Monmouth, N. J., the night of March 30. . . . The Condos Brothers, tap dancers, will accompany Singer Martha Raye to camps in Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois this week. . . . Mischa Ailer will do his stuff the next fort- night at Georgia and Alabama posts. ... Hugh Herbert's mili- tary tour takes him to Illinois, Michigan, New York, Massachu- setts, Rhode Island and New Jer- sey before it ends April 4. . . All under the auspices of USO-Camp Camp Productions Shows, Inc.

Over the week-end what used to Sbe known as Recreation Building 1 down at Fort Hancock on the North Jersey Coast blossomed into a full-fledged theatre, and an al- most all-soldier cast put on the John Murray-Allen Boretz comedy, "Room Service," before what ap- Dancer parently were large and enthusias- tic audiences of soldiers, their wives and friends. Katherine Sergava, late of the" Aiding the soldiers were two ringers," Carol Hill and Helen I Ballet Theatre and the Original Hawley, actresses, who volunteered Ballet Russe, will dance tomorrow their services. Lieutenant Clarence evening at the Marine Barracks,, G. Hupfer, Special Service Officer, Brooklyn Navy Yard, in a volun- superintended the performances. teer joint recital with the Salzedo The theatre is fully equipped, mak- Harp Ensemble. This will be the ing things easy for Private Rich- ard Weiss, the director, and first program of ballet dancing to Pri- vates Alan Holmes and Harry be presented for an audience of; Fleer, the chief technicians. Fur- service men under the auspices of ther performances are scheduled the concert division of USO-Camp until all the "watchdogs of the Shows. The reaction to the experi- greatest harbor in the world," as ment on this occasion will deter- the sqldiers at Fort Hancock are known, have seenthe show. Then mine the extent to which leading a tour of all Second Corps Area exponents of the dance will be camps is in order, after which oth- booked into Army camps in the er shows will be given at old Rec- future. reation Building 1. I L , , t 26.

I ----~---~----~ --- -! THE PLAY \t~------IT'S ALL YOURS, a musical entertain- the performers. Since Hume ment designed for the U. S. O.-Camp Shows, Inc. Words, music and lyrics bor- Cronyn, Jos6 Ferrer and Jack Gil- rowed from Harold Arlen, David Greg- ford are in the current troupe, gory, Morgan Lewis, Hoagy Carmichael, you Nancy Hamilton, Max Liebman. Peter can hardly say that the cast is Barry, E. Y. Harburg, Richard Rodgers, composed Howard Dietz, Lorenz Hart, Arthur of beginners. But the Schwartz, Ted Fetter. Richard Lewine, main point oi "It's All Yours" is Arthur Sheekman. Staged by Edward that any group of theatre Duryea Dowling; music under the direc- people tion of Mr. Lewine and Mr. Lewis; pro- can put it on anywhere without a duction staff, Nancy Stern, Ruth Wilk, Peggy Clark, Hume Cronyn and Mr. warehouse of equipment and con- Lewine. stellation of stars. It is mobile en- PRINCIPALS-Jose Ferrer, Mr. Cronyn, Jack Gilford, Melissa Mason. Christina tertainment in the best meaning of Linl, Don Liberto, Virginia Bolen, Jane the term. Kean and Joe Daniels. By BROOKS ATKINSON It also happens to be good en- tertainment. For Mr. Cronyn and In case the soldiers have nothing Richard Lewine to do in the evening, some young have assembled actors on Broadway have assem- the material out of several Broad- bled a remarkably pleasant bill of way musical shows with the con- stage entertainment, "It's All sent of a great many authors. Yours," which was acted in the Willie Howard's double-talk quack Y. M. C. A. auditorium on Gov- sketch, "The Voice of Experi- ernors Island after supper yester- ence," now visible in "Priorities of day. As far as USO Camp Shows 1942," turns up early in the eve- is concerned, it is an experiment ning with Mr. Cronyn firirg6 the toward solving a particular prob- gag lines and Mr. Gilford talking lem. For there is need of profes- the gibberish. Jane Kean and Vir- sional entertainment that can ginia Bolen are singing "Give It travel without stars and without a Back to the Indians," which Mary production, and play on ships, in Jane Walsh sang in "Too Many kitchens or in the open wherever Girls" last season. Christina Lind soldiers and sailors may happen to is singing a medley of Cole Por- be. ter's tunes. "It's All Yours" does carry a Imitating Bert Lahr, which is': lamp-post for the sake of scenic obviously impossible, Mr. Ferrer glamour. But the rest of the show takes a good-natured fling at the is composed of songs and im- epic "Song of the Woodman," promptu sketches, which can be from "The Show Is On." There is transported intact in an actor's a hilarious sketch about a play- head, and the random abilities of wright at work cooking up some bachelor apartment imbecilities that comes out of a show your cor- respondent cannot identify, and a crack-brained telephone antic based on a sketch Fred Allen acted i-OF8S i--l-ti in "Three's a Crowd" before Hitler, if possible. Professional Add to all this Melissa Mason's anatomically impossible dancing, Touring Unit some skillful tapping and stuff by Don Liberto and Mr. Gilford's comic study of Rialto Theatre mys- tery films and you have a good evening of skittishness and skull- duggery. Private Sidney Kingsley gave it a professional dramatist's! cachet. Private Jack Shanley thought it was the funniest thing he had seen since he left THE NEW YORK TIMES office to join the Army three irionths ago. 27.

B. Exerpts from Museum of Modern Art Coi:mentary on Art Exhibit from Fort Custer, Mlichigan

"..... a demonstration of how Army Camps have used artists who have jointed the army.

".....put artists to vvorK making posters and sets, included sketches and photos of daily activity.

"...... Major Harry E. Cooper, Post Morale Officer, obtained services of S. V. Seeley of M1aichigan Art and Craft Project to direct.

".....Major General Cummings, Commander of 6th Corps Area endorsed results enthusiastically and provided permanent quarters.

".....Mluseum calls attention to the precedent." 28.

II. Opinions--Pro and Con

A. Pro--Excerpts from report by USO-Gamp Shows, Inc.

".....Out of the darkenss that covered between fifty and one aunndred of America's training camps last night came the cutting blare of brass in chorus, the tuned lift of girls sing- ing a professional hi-de-ho, and the boisterous, infectious laughter of stage comedians.

Back to them went the responsive roars, the cheers and the whistling approval of 40,000 sun-darkened wori-toughed soldiers who were relaxing in theatres equipped with every modern device, en- joying the kind of shows with the type of stars that some of them had not even been accustomed to seeing 'back home.'"

".....First of the projects that thils board con- quered was the equipping and dispatching of eleven full-fledged Broadway shows on the road to the 65 service camps that iiade up the Red-White- and-Blue Circuit. Full-fledged productions like 'Out of the Frying Pan' 'Junior Miss,' Funzafire' were taken or adapted from the Broadway boards and sent to the modern camp theatres. Perform- ers dependent on their earnings for a livelihood could not be aslked to contribute their talents. USO-Camp Shows had a drastically limited budget, and a perpetually enlarging audience. At this tuncture Bert Lytell and Frarcn Gilmore, with the volunitary assistance of the many theatrical un- ions, prevailed on the players in the legitimate shows, and on the vaudeville stars who wouid make up the thirteen compaiies of the Stars-and-Stripes Circuit to accept salaries for below their usual standards."

".....The men in the camps wanted to see and hear their favorite Hollywood stars, and the stars of the screen responded with an equally generous gesture. The Artists Guilds, through the Associ- ated Actors and Artistes of America, quickly designated USO-Camp Shows as the agency for all requests to entertain men in the service.

Hollywood responded, and personal-appearance sched- 29.

ules were put into action. WVhenever it is pos- sible, USO-Camp Shows 'books' these screen-star volunteers into one of the shows traveling on either the Red-White-and-Blue or the Stars-and- Stripes circuits."

".....Flexible, lightly-burdened units that could be rushed out to any point of the United States had to be rapidly contrived. And thir- teen full-fledged units of vaudeville and music were the answer, with their gag men and clowns, their vocalists, ventriloquists and impersonat- ors, their dog acts, bird acts, double acts, and their remarkcable performers of feats in- credible.

Vaudeville was assigned the Stars-and-stripes Circuit, and hundreds of thousands of eager sold- iers in 165 new camps were assured their portion of entertaixnment."

S.....And now an extensive program has been arranged between the concert managers and the concert division of USO-Camp Uhows so that art- ists like Heifetz, Melton, spalding, Tibbett, Crooks, Lanny Ross, Grace Moore, Rose Bampton and dozens of others from their field, are rapidly being brought directly to the men in camps."

".....The stars volunteer for two-week tours and many of them have asked USO-Camp Shows for an extension of this time after they have been out for a few days. The response they get from the service men is, they all agree, about the most momentous thing that has ever happened to any of them before."

".....And finally, for a nation of boys reared in an atmosphere of 'Jumping jive' and killer- diller rhythm, who had danced to the most luxur- ious of our modern orchestras as purveyed to them by the radio and the jukle-box, there was nothing more to be desired than an in-camp appearance of their favorite name orchestras."

" ..... They included such topnotch aggregations 30.

as Benny Goodman, Red Norvo, Lawrence Welks, Alvino Ray, Johnny iessner, Claude Thornhill, 'uggsy't Spenier, Cecil Gnlly, Ella Fitz- gerald, Jimmy Dorsey and -anmmy Kaye."

".....All US0-Camp Shows' entertainments are now 'admission free' to service men."

"...... Viarwas not always like this. For a nation less than two months at' war to be able to send the cream of its talented performers nightly to the task of lifting the spirits and morale of its men in arms is little short of miraculous. And USO-Camp Shows, Inc. had accomplished this minor miracle of American preparedness."

" ... I..rate Congressmen in vvashington may level their fingers, narrow their eyes and hurl their charges at others who have been laggard in discharging their responsibility in this war. But no blows are going to come the way of the Camp bhows Division of USO. Its lead- ers, its personnel and its groaning, straining mechanism has, to date, accomplished the one big task which brought them into being.

And that is--to keep 'em laughing!" 31.

B. Con--Exerpts from L Critic in Camp--arttice

by George Jean iathan in Liberty Magazine, February 16, 1942.

I- -I There are at the moment of writing Another thing that I have heard the ii215 camps on the USO-Camp Shows soldiers yap about-and justifiably-is circuit. And at the moment of writing the visibly second- and third-rate' at least 190 of them are pretty dis- talent that is most often unloaded couraged in trying to be cheered up by upon them. For one performer of small-time cafeteria entertainers sing- reputation and competence, they have ing (with gestures) You're a Sap been getting two to three dozen re- Mister Jap, and by former small-time cruited from the good Lord alone vaudeville wags telling the one aboul knows where, and the substitutes have the girl who told her boy friend she been pretty hard to swallow. Worse, was like the Venus di Milo, and wher the shows in which they have appeared he asked her why, replied, "Hands off have been the rankest sort of para- big boy, hands off!" phrases of Broadway musicals and night-club floor shows. The exhibits called The Beachcombers, Sunshine Revue, Razzle Dazzle, Funzafire, Happy Go Lucky, and the like are presented by the boys as' grim examples. What is more, they lament, while the efforts of such performers in them as Victor Hyde, Stubby Kaye, Milton Douglas, Lew Parker, Clarence Stroud, Benny "Are the soldiers Ross, and Maxine Stone have been sincere to the point of breathlessness, getting the kind of it would certainly be swell for a shows they want? (One change to get a few people like Eddie I man ts opinion: he Cantor, Jimmy Durante, Victor Moore, and Ethel Merman. doubts it!" Joe E. Lewis, &

Inquiry among several typical cam'-js discloses the fact that what the soldiers look forward to is considerably greater diversity than they presently areýpt-! ting in the successive bills offered them. Some of these shows, they allow, may be all right in their way, but they are too much alike. After a month in which four different female singers yodel exactly the same songs, four different bands play exactly the That the soldiers are far from satis same compositions, and four different fled with the species of entertainment, male baritones shout God Bless Amer- that has often been provided them is 1 ica, it's time, the boys argue, for a. indicated by their announced intention little relief. And something also ought here and there to go it on their own to be done, they groan, about the and to attempt to supply their own masters of ceremonies. forms of diversion. -- 32.

C. Con--Excerpts from U. S. army Private by

St. Clair McKelway--Life Miagazine, March 16, 19.4.

Although Teed is proud of his individuality and has a healthy amount of egotism, he is inclined at the moment to underestimate his importance to his country. He has received, in a thousand different ways since he was inducted into the Army, an im- pression that his country on the whole doesn't con- sider him very valuable. He wouldn't tell you that in so many words, but he feels itand shows it.It is clearly revealed in what is called his morale. If you asked Teed about his morale, however, he would say 1 with some irritation, "Of course my morale's all right!' or "What the hell's the matter with my

morale, I'd like to know!" He has read a good many newspaper stories about his morale and he is sensitive about it. Teed has a notion that if his morale isn't all itshould be itmust be his own fault, that having a bad morale is something to be ashamed of, like having bad habits or bad teeth. He knows that special officers called "Morale Officers" have been assigned to his outfit with orders to do something about this morale of his. He has been to some of the entertainments these officers have arranged for him and has noted soberly that they are, as the pro- grams state, "Presented by the Morale Division." When he found these entertainments almost unbearably dull, he felt chagrined rather than indignant and went to bed with a guilty feeling that he should have been able to enjoy them. When he takes his place in line in front of i the Division movie house and, after an hour and a half or so of waiting, finds that he is one of several hundred who can't be accommodated that night, he wishes he didn't mind missing the movie as much as he does.

Then there are the post exchanges, where beer may be bought at the same price a civilian pays in the outside world. These are always jammed with men. It takes a man about half an hour of pushing and edging his way up to the counter to get a bottle of beer.: There is rarely any place to sit down, so he drinks it standing up. If a man doesn't get into the movies, the Service Club or a post exchange, he can go to the company dayroom which has a ping-pong table, a pool table and two or three writing desks for the accommo- j dation of the z2oo-odd men in an infantry company. IThe USO, through one of its subsidiaries, has put on a few .1iows for the soldiers at Fort Bragg, none of them very successful and one of them a sensational failure. This was a show called Music In The Air which, billed as a gay entertainment of song and dance, turned out to be a musicale. There were four singers and three instrumentalists, who sang and played nothing but classical music, including some- thing from La Boheme and Schubert's The Bee. It cost I 5 and was in line with what seems to have become a major policy of the USO, which aims at improving the.soldiers' morals and making them bet- ter citizens, capable of appreciating the finer things of life. The spe- cial Services (morale) Branch of the Army also has made feeble and inexpert attempts to entertain Teed and his fellow selectees. Like the 'USO, the morale officers have confused morals with morale and are generally inclined to try to make the soldiers over rather than to try to make them laugh.

"~ometimes, when no one cries 'We are lost!' and runs, but 3 instead a brave-spiritedfellow leads the way, shouting 'Hurrah!,' a detachment offive thousand is as good as thirty thousand, while at times fifty thousand will run from eight thousand, as they did at AusterlitZ. In war, as in every practical matter, nothing can be definite, and everything depends on countless conditions, the influence of which be- comes manifest all in a moment, and no one can know when that moment is coming. ....The credit of success in battle does not rightly belong to the so-called military genius, for victory or defeat depends in reality on the soldier in the ranks who first shouts 'Hurrah!' or 'We are lost!"' -from Tolstoy's "War And Peace."

"Charles .Edward Teed is a soldier in the ranks of the United otates Army, a selectee with enough training benind him to make him ready for battle as a seasoned rifleman of infantry. iNo matter hoivw weli equipped for this battle the Army may be, no matter how' efficient the Air Force of how strong the Navy, the ultimate victory over the common enemy may uepend to a great extent on Teed and on solaiers more or less like him. Whether Teed, wvhen the time comes, will feel like shouting 'Hurrah!' or 'ile are lost!' is a question of consideraple national significance. " 34.•

CONCLUSION

It is felt that real and sincere efforts are being done by the Army and by the entertainment world to solve this serious problem of the morale of our sold- iers. Every week brings new ideas, new experiments, new volunteers, new talent; it is to be hoped that each month will find new cooperation between the numerous bodies who now direct the various activities. However, a thorough organization of the program as a whole is absolutely essential.

Therefore, this ideal plan for the coordination of activities and facilities to build morale through the constructive use of leisure hours of soldiers in Army

Camps is valuable. The program wiii require very able executives to solve the problems suggested here; many unforeseen problems will constantly appear. But it is believed that in organizing the whoie question, in out- lining the activities unuaer their logical heacings, and in designing a recreational unit to house the entire program, an essential step has been made in the solution of a problem of vital importance today. BIBLIOGRAPHY

The Stage is Set--Lee Simonson

Theatre Acoustics--C. C. Potwin

Architectural Forum--July 1938 and other issues

Theatre Arts MonOtly--July 1938, April 1939, July 1939, and articles in recent issues

The New York Times--Entertaining Soldiers in the Drama Section, March i, and items in recent issues